wedding photographer

[mar529]

a family friend asked me to photograph his wedding this summer. however, he's hiring a real professional photographer as well, and mainly wants me to take more candid shots of everybody (mainly cuz i'll actually know who everybody is whereas the pro won't) while the pro concentrates on the actual ceremony and studio shots etc. he's gonna pay me and asked how much i would do it for. How much do you think i should charge?

[WDOphoto]

mar529:
If your friend hired a real professional then the pro will know who all the important people are - it's part of the job.
That being said it really depends on what the other wedding costs are. If your friend is paying 10k for a photog and willing to pay you then you can ask anything you're comfortable asking.
If on the other hand he is spending $600 then maybe offer to do it as a gift unless you really need some cash.
If I really cared about my friend then I'd offer them a disk of the images - free, if I am going to the wedding, and if they didn't hire me. Though unless I'm in the wedding - if it is a good friend and they didn't hire me I'm going to be a little mad at them :0)
Ask you friend what they think is fare and be aware of some things - tell your friends that you're willing to volunteer to point out the people they want pics of to he photog if there is not someone else to do that already. Don't do it though if you are not assigned this role.
The other thing is to be polite to the pro - let them get their shot but expect the same courtesy. If you set up a shot and (s)he takes over then feel free to do the same to him.
Remember that they are paying a photog a lot of money for one reason - to get great photos. The thing is though that a photog can't do that at the expense of being a total ass.
Good luck to you!
when is the wedding? update the forum with what price you agreed on.
Cheers!

[ditch_azeroth]

when i started, that's what i did - took the candid shots. taking candid shots usually gives you more "honorable mention" because most candid shots are, well, memorable. when somebody asks me to shoot their wedding, i always see it as an honor and give my services as a wedding gift - since i'm into photography for the craft these days (even though i am so frustrated and desperate to upgrade my rig already). further along, i just ask them for my expenses (cab fare, lenses rented maybe, etc. and they usually give me extra... referrals are what i'm into. these can never be paid for). i'm with wdo on this - unless you are in dire need of cash, give it to them as a gift. the lessons you'll get on the first few weddings you'll be doing is priceless.